--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You should always be prepared to defend…" description: "\"“You should always be prepared to defend your choices, whether just to yourself (sometimes this is the hardest) or to your coworkers, your friends, or ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73e/alyssa-mastromonaco-17634_choice_you-should-always-be-prepared-to-defend_2858822.jpg" --- # You should always be prepared to defend your choices… ![“You should always be prepared to defend your choices, whether just to yourself (sometimes this is the hardest) or to your coworkers, your friends, or your family. The quickest way for people to lose confidence in your ability to ever make a decision is for you to pass the buck, shrug your…” quote by Alyssa Mastromonaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73e/alyssa-mastromonaco-17634_choice_you-should-always-be-prepared-to-defend_2858822.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73e/alyssa-mastromonaco-17634_choice_you-should-always-be-prepared-to-defend_2858822.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73e/alyssa-mastromonaco-17634_choice_you-should-always-be-prepared-to-defend_2858822.jpg) > ““You should always be prepared to defend your choices, whether just to yourself (sometimes this is the hardest) or to your coworkers, your friends, or your family. The quickest way for people to lose confidence in your ability to ever make a decision is for you to pass the buck, shrug your shoulders, or otherwise wuss out. Learning how to become a decision maker, and how you ultimately justify your choices, can define who you are.”” [Alyssa Mastromonaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-mastromonaco/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote urges personal accountability for decisions and warns against shirking responsibility. **In simple terms:** Take responsibility for your choices. Key Takeaway Own your decisions. Themes leadership accountability confidence Mood assertive encouraging Type leadership motivational When to use this quote - workplace meetings - personal coaching - public speaking Key Concepts decision making psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - What strategies help defend decisions? - How to balance confidence with humility? A Different Perspective People may resist accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Leadership development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-development/) [Leadership quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-quotes/) ## Related quotes > [“What is it about our human nature that we feel the need to defend the choices we’ve made when it comes to our medical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-somers/what-is-it-about-our-human-nature-that-we-feel-the-need-to-defend-the/) [Suzanne Somers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-somers/) > [“People do not take actions based on logic. We make choices based on emotion. Every one of us. Then we use what we call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kameron-hurley/people-do-not-take-actions-based-on-logic-we-make-choices-based-on/) [Kameron Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kameron-hurley/) > [“What you realize is that everyone has her own priorities—her own constituency. Often, being a leader is not about making grand proclamations or telling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-mastromonaco/what-you-realize-is-that-everyone-has-her-own-priorities-her-own/) [Alyssa Mastromonaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-mastromonaco/) > [“The normalization of psychopathic traits in leadership positions speaks volumes about our societal values and the high price of unbridled ambition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhysheq-shukla/the-normalization-of-psychopathic-traits-in-leadership-positions/) [Abhysheq Shukla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhysheq-shukla/) > [“The beauty of life is not to live without facing trials, challenges, and difficult times. It is the ability to remain steady, secure, fixed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-suulola/the-beauty-of-life-is-not-to-live-without-facing-trials-challenges/) [Benjamin Suulola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-suulola/) > [“Advice to my younger self: 1 Start where you are with what you have 2 Try not to hurt other people 3 Take more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/advice-to-my-younger-self-1-start-where-you-are-with-what-you-have-2/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [“Integrity is the bond of trust.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-norton/integrity-is-the-bond-of-trust/) [Richie Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-norton/) > [“when you face disappointments and trials in life, your response dictates the character that will be created in you as a result.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-fraseur/when-you-face-disappointments-and-trials-in-life-your-response/) [Spencer Fraseur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-fraseur/) > [“Imagine a world full of people who take their choices seriously, carefully weighing the options presented to them. I wonder where we would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-fraseur/imagine-a-world-full-of-people-who-take-their-choices-seriously/) [Spencer Fraseur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-fraseur/) > [“Even in an age where the answer to almost all of life’s questions is a simple Google search away, we often don’t take the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-fraseur/even-in-an-age-where-the-answer-to-almost-all-of-life-s-questions-is/) [Spencer Fraseur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-fraseur/) > [“Focus on your work. Do what you're great at. Don't compare yourself to others and or waste time criticizing the lives and work of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/focus-on-your-work-do-what-you-re-great-at-don-t-compare-yourself-to/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [“Leadership needs continuous learning from experience. Every time you learn something new, you re-wire your brain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/leadership-needs-continuous-learning-from-experience-every-time-you/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) > [“We are all skyscrapers, continually adding rooms and floors to who we are. Once one floor is done, the next begins and the result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-fraseur/we-are-all-skyscrapers-continually-adding-rooms-and-floors-to-who-we/) [Spencer Fraseur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-fraseur/) > [“Leadership is not about the power and status of one but the empowerment and service of all. That is what it should be and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rasheed-ogunlaru/leadership-is-not-about-the-power-and-status-of-one-but-the/) [Rasheed Ogunlaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rasheed-ogunlaru/) > [“Some choices are better than others and we, as mortal humans, cannot be expected to always choose the best ones. What we can control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-fraseur/some-choices-are-better-than-others-and-we-as-mortal-humans-cannot-be/) [Spencer Fraseur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-fraseur/) ## More by Alyssa Mastromonaco > [I think that if you look at all of the books that have ever been written about people working in the White House, they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-mastromonaco/i-think-that-if-you-look-at-all-of-the-books-that-have-ever-been/) [Alyssa Mastromonaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-mastromonaco/) > [“If you do it responsibly, quitting something that isn’t benefiting you—whether it’s dance classes that “everyone is taking” or a soul-sucking job that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-mastromonaco/if-you-do-it-responsibly-quitting-something-that-isn-t-benefiting-you/) [Alyssa Mastromonaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-mastromonaco/) > [Because as much as the world loves you one minute, it can be way down on you the next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-mastromonaco/because-as-much-as-the-world-loves-you-one-minute-it-can-be-way-down/) [Alyssa Mastromonaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-mastromonaco/) > [“What you realize is that everyone has her own priorities—her own constituency. Often, being a leader is not about making grand proclamations or telling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-mastromonaco/what-you-realize-is-that-everyone-has-her-own-priorities-her-own/) [Alyssa Mastromonaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-mastromonaco/) > [I don't think that Donald Trump treated Hillary any differently than he treated Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio. He is a deeply disrespectful person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-mastromonaco/i-don-t-think-that-donald-trump-treated-hillary-any-differently-than/) [Alyssa Mastromonaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-mastromonaco/) > [I wanted young women to know that I was very lucky that I worked for people who literally let me be me. If I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-mastromonaco/i-wanted-young-women-to-know-that-i-was-very-lucky-that-i-worked-for/) [Alyssa Mastromonaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-mastromonaco/) > [“Whatever anyone tells you about how technology and social media have made us disconnected from reality is probably right, but I think you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-mastromonaco/whatever-anyone-tells-you-about-how-technology-and-social-media-have/) [Alyssa Mastromonaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-mastromonaco/) > [“There are certain lesson you pick up gradually as you go, letting them accumulate after a series of similar mistakes or experiences until you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-mastromonaco/there-are-certain-lesson-you-pick-up-gradually-as-you-go-letting-them/) [Alyssa Mastromonaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-mastromonaco/) > [I think you can't dip your toe in and dip your toe out. I think either you're in it or you're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-mastromonaco/i-think-you-can-t-dip-your-toe-in-and-dip-your-toe-out-i-think-either/) [Alyssa Mastromonaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-mastromonaco/) > [“Part of knowing how to be prepared comes from being self-aware—being able to anticipate what you’ll need (or screw up) and planning accordingly. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-mastromonaco/part-of-knowing-how-to-be-prepared-comes-from-being-self-aware-being/) [Alyssa Mastromonaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-mastromonaco/) > [Find someone who you really believe in - that can be at a state level. The one thing I can encourage women to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-mastromonaco/find-someone-who-you-really-believe-in-that-can-be-at-a-state-level/) [Alyssa Mastromonaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-mastromonaco/) > [“When the White House got news of the disaster, POTUS coordinated a relief effort pretty much immediately. According to the ticktock, the minute-by-minute outline…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-mastromonaco/when-the-white-house-got-news-of-the-disaster-potus-coordinated-a/) [Alyssa Mastromonaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-mastromonaco/) > [I'd love to say "Donald Trump is just sexist." And I do believe he's sexist, but I also believe that he also treats anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-mastromonaco/i-d-love-to-say-donald-trump-is-just-sexist-and-i-do-believe-he-s/) [Alyssa Mastromonaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-mastromonaco/) > [Is there a reason there's not a tampon dispenser in the West Wing basement?" And it was like, "No." Nobody had really just ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-mastromonaco/is-there-a-reason-there-s-not-a-tampon-dispenser-in-the-west-wing/) [Alyssa Mastromonaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-mastromonaco/) > [The thing that I think is so depressing, fundamentally, about Donald Trump, is that he doesn't appreciate what's happening right now. He doesn't seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-mastromonaco/the-thing-that-i-think-is-so-depressing-fundamentally-about-donald/) [Alyssa Mastromonaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-mastromonaco/) [Explore all 36 Alyssa Mastromonaco quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-mastromonaco/) ## More Choice quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/) Randy C. Dockens > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/) [Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) [Browse all 8,092 Choice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You should always be prepared to defend your choices, whether just to yourself (sometimes this is the hardest) or to your coworkers, your friends, or your family. 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